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[email protected] Today marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Southwest Light Rail Line Service was the first to connect suburbs and downtown Denver by rail DENVER (July 14, 2020) – The Regional Transportation District (RTD) marks the 20th anniversary today of the opening of the Southwest Light Rail Line from I-25 and Broadway to Englewood and Littleton. The line was the first to serve the south metro suburbs by rail. The Southwest Rail Line – an extension of the D Line – added five new stations, at Evans, Englewood, Oxford, Littleton•Downtown, and Littleton•Mineral. Future plans for this line will eventually connect downtown Denver to C-470 and Lucent in Highlands Ranch when RTD secures funds to build the Southwest Rail Extension, part of the 2004 FasTracks plan. “The success of the Southwest Light Rail Line was key in launching more rail connections over the next two decades,” said RTD Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Paul J. Ballard. “We are excited to mark this milestone as we prepare for the Sept. 21 opening of our newest commuter rail line, the N Line, further enhancing connectivity throughout the region.” When the Southwest Line opened, projected ridership was reached almost immediately, surpassing the forecast of 8,400 riders per weekday and, in April 2002, averaging 17,900 riders at the five stations. In 2019, average weekday ridership reached 18,400 for the C and D Lines combined. The Southwest Line is one of RTD's great examples of regional collaboration between RTD, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) and local governments.